The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Zambia Revenue Authority, Department of Immigration, Ministry of Agriculture, NAC 2000, Zambia Postal Services Corporation, Hill & Delamain, the Zambia Export Growers Association (ZEGA) and others.

Speaking as Guest of Honour, Mr. Paul Mulola, Assistant Director - Aviation in the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, reaffirmed Government’s vision to develop Zambia into a regional aviation and logistics hub as outlined in the National Transport Policy (2018– 2028) and the Aviation Strategy (2022–2026).

“Zambia’s central location and proximity to a regional market of more than 350 million people present immense opportunities for trade facilitation and regional integration. We must now walk the talk and ensure that our air cargo and export volumes grow in line with national targets,” he said.

ZACL Managing Director, Mr Urvesh Desai, emphasised that the Corporation had prioritised the development of modern cargo infrastructure as part of its airport upgrade programme, resulting in new cargo terminals at KKIA and SMKIA.

“Despite these investments, outbound cargo volumes have continued to decline, with inbound cargo now representing about 60 per cent of total volumes compared to less than 20 per cent two decades ago,” he noted.

Mr. Desai further observed that Zambia’s total cargo volumes fell from 49,000 tons in

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2005 to just under 19,000 tons in 2024, remaining below 22,000 tons for almost two decades, a trend he attributed to limited export diversification and the dominance of low- value perishables in outbound traffic.

He urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders to grow two-way cargo flows, enhance export competitiveness, and expand Zambia’s participation in regional logistics networks.

In the wider Southern and Central African context, regional airports such as Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, and Nairobi have successfully integrated air cargo with multimodal logistics systems, boosting trade and attracting investment. Zambia’s central geographic position and ongoing airport modernisation programme position it to play a similar facilitative role for SADC and COMESA trade corridors.

ZACL recorded a 7 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in KKIA cargo volumes between 2007 and 2024, despite the persistent imbalance between inbound and outbound freight. He reaffirmed ZACL’s focus on cargo incentives, digital tracking systems, and improved clearance efficiency to stimulate exports.

The discussion enabled participants to identify bottlenecks, propose coordinated interventions, and strengthen partnerships that support Zambia’s aspiration to become a regional aviation and logistics hub. Through such engagements, Zambia Airports reaffirms its leadership role in enabling efficient cargo movement, enhancing export competitiveness, and ensuring that the country’s modern airport infrastructure contributes meaningfully to the broader regional supply chain network in support of the Government’s broader trade facilitation and industrialisation agenda.

//Ends.

About Zambia Airports Corporation Limited

Zambia Airports Corporation Limited was established in 1989 through the amendment of the Aviation Act, Chapter 444 of the Laws of Zambia which has been repealed and